Is poll prelude to sugar tax push?

Survey includes question as Health Department denies revival of issue

Published 12:00 am, Friday, February 11, 2011

Former State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard F. Daines lost his fight to tax sugared drinked to cut obesity. (Times Union)

Former State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard F. Daines lost his fight to tax sugared drinked to cut obesity. (Times Union)

Photo: Chelsea Kruger

Is poll prelude to sugar tax push?

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ALBANY -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said that his pledge of no new taxes extends to a long-debated "sugar tax" on sodas and other sweetened beverages. And Cuomo's Health Commissioner Nirav Shah has said the same thing, telling lawmakers during his confirmation last month that there's no sugar tax in the offing.

"We have committed to no new taxes at this time," Shah said.

So why is the state Health Department running a lengthy phone survey that asks participants, among other questions, if a tax on sugary soda would make them more or less likely to purchase such products?

State officials say it's due to the fact that the survey, which was paid for by a competitive federal Stimulus Fund grant, was developed while former Gov. David Paterson was still in office. Paterson and his Health Commissioner Richard Daines pushed hard but unsuccessfully for the tax.

"Do not take it that this implies that this administration is looking to tax (soda), Department of Health spokeswoman Claudia Hutton stressed.

She noted the survey covered a number of areas and it's part of a broader grant that also funds efforts to develop more pedestrian walkways as well as nutrition issues.

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Once the grant is awarded, the survey is locked in, she said.

But even with the new anti-tax administration, the recent survey, which had gone relatively unnoticed, has the potential to re-ignite an old debate.

Those representing beverage sellers and bottlers, for example, reacted swiftly when told that such a survey was being conducted.

"We are all holding our breath waiting to see what gets put back on the table in the end (of the budget process)," he said. "We're not taking anything for granted." Rosen's organization hasn't launched any pre-emptive campaigns to keep the tax from re-emerging.

"This is a job-killing tax that won't effectively address obesity," added Darren Dopp, an industry spokesman. He said the governor has promised not to raise taxes, which is encouraging to industry.

A coalition of organizations including beverage makers, has been airing TV ads across the nation arguing against sugar taxes.

One of those, the Give Me a Break ad, features a woman pushing a shopping cart through a supermarket complaining about efforts by politicians to tax sugared drinks, saying the government is "trying to control what we eat and drink with taxes."

During the Paterson administration, Daines pushed hard for a tax on sugared drinks, arguing it could help combat obesity.

Some observers have wondered if the sugar tax could come up again during budget negotiations, especially in light of the governor's call to cut $2.85 billion from Medicaid.

Another revenue raiser that wasn't included in Cuomo's budget plan but which remains on some people's minds is allowing the sale of wine in grocery stores.

Like the sugar tax, the concept has been around for a while. And as soda bottlers have fiercely opposed a sugar tax, liquor store owners have fought back efforts to allow wine sales in grocery stores (wine sales are now limited to liquor stores).

The so-called WIGS debate surfaced again on Thursday as a coalition supporting wine in grocery stores released a survey suggesting the move would get more New Yorkers to buy wine at home rather than going to neighboring states like Massachusetts or New Jersey.

The liquor store lobby, though, contends WIGS would put many of their members, including those operating family-owned stores, out of business.